Giro 2014: Mountains in stage 15: To ski resort Montecampione

Stage 15 in the 2014 Giro salutes Marco Pantani. The Italian climber took the stage to Montecampione in 1998 when he conquered the mountain in just 49 minutes. Quintana? Purito? Can anyone match that?(Slideshow route/profile)

Who can replicate Pantani and take a win on Montecampione?

Plan di Montecampione

In wintertime Montecampione is a ski resort. It’s located at an altitude of 1,665 metres, so on May 25th the landscape will undoubtedly still show some white spots as is common in the Giro.

Coming out of the valley the road rises 1,446 verical metres in almost 19 kilometres. The climb is long and there is no let up at any point. The first 8 kilometres rise by an average gradient of 8% and end with a stretch of 12%. The middle section is the friendliest part of the climb, but is immediately followed by the grueling last 5 last kilometres taking the riders to the top at an 9% average.